Harry Potter and the Dark Mark

Chapter Five

The Slytherins had Herbology next with the Ravenclaws, but Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs didn't have Herbology 'til after lunch. Hermione took Ron and Harry's bottles of Streeler Venom as they walked to the Charms Corridor for Charms. She said she would keep them safe because it was inevitable they would break theirs during the course of the morning. They hadn't been set any Care of Magical Creatures homework because Professor Grubbly-Plank said that Herbology would be homework for them. Harry privately thought that was extremely kind of her, because Dean and Neville were holding a Gobstones Knockout Tournament in the evening, and he wanted to see if he could win. The prize was a One Galleon Gift Voucher for Honeydukes, and it would come in very useful buying sweets in for the Christmas Holidays.

The last lesson in the afternoon found the fourth and fifth years in a heightened state of excitement. The reason for the excitement was that it was finally the tryouts for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. The Gryffindors were the last team to prepare, because they could only try one House on the pitch at a time. Most of Gryffindor had turned out in the stands to watch, if they weren't trying out themselves. Harry had to admit to himself that he, too, was quite enthusiastic. He had never seen a tryout before, the team having been solid since his arrival in first year, and he had never had to undergo any form of tests himself.

The snow had stopped falling, although the pitch was covered. No one minded, however, because they would be flying above it. The wind had picked up slightly, which seemed to unnerve some of the fourth years who were trying out. Madam Hooch was checking over their brooms thoroughly, her yellow, hawk-like eyes darting about. She inspected the handles, shafts, and even each individual twig on each broom. After that, she checked that everyone was kitted out safely, with gloves and cushioning charms, and then finally satisfied, delivered a short speech.

"Now, I know all of you are keen to play for your team, and to do your best. I must point out, however, that Quidditch is a dangerous sport to play. You may find yourself becoming well acquainted with Madam Pomfrey if you make the team. I will not tolerate fouls or bad language-"

"Why do Slytherin have a team, then?" enquired Fred innocently.

"Hush, Mr Weasley. As I was saying, I expect a high level of etiquette from all of you-"

"Except the Slytherins, because they can't manage it, bless them," George explained, pretending to dab a tear away from the corner of his eye.

"How disappointed their parents must be," Fred continued.

"It must be so hard to be social failures like they all are..."

"...unable to hold a proper conversation that doesn't involve grunting, swearing, or other bodily-"

"Mr and Mr Weasley! Kindly refrain from this... distracting conversation!" barked Madam Hooch. Her eyes flashed, and the silver highlights in her grey hair glimmered, reflecting the pale sky. Satisfied they were properly chastised, she carried on. " A high level of etiquette from all of you, and good team spirit! You're no use if you play for yourself alone. Now I will let Miss Bell explain what she would like you all to do this afternoon." She walked over to the battered Quidditch box that lay in the snow, and began fiddling with the buckles and inspecting the Quaffles and Bludgers she had ready.

"Good afternoon!" Katie bellowed cheerfully at the assembly. "You know we're only looking for a Keeper, and maybe a reserve, depending how good the standard is. You never know when you're going to be needed, in a school like this. The reason the team are here is because they are going to help me pick the best of you. Now," she paused to inspect a crumpled sheaf of parchment, "Angelina, if you'll take Seamus and Parvati, Alicia, you can take Ginny and Ron, and Fred and George, I'd like you to take the other two. Be nice!" she warned the twins. They grinned impudently at her, and Fred winked briefly, before turning to the two fourth years he was in charge of. They eyed him distrustfully, which made Harry smile.

The first thing each pair had to practise doing was catching the Quaffle and throwing it back to each other. Katie made them think of as many difficult and unlikely ways to throw it as was humanly possible, and Harry seriously doubted that anyone would want to be a Keeper if the Chasers threw the Quaffles at them like that. His job, because they had no real need for a Seeker, was to go and retrieve the Quaffles when they were dropped into the snow below. It wasn't the most fascinating job, but Harry enjoyed diving for them as if they were Snitches. He also enjoyed imagining that he was the one judging each of the candidates. He tried to look on them impartially. He was surprised to note that Parvati was quite good, because he had always thought her to be a bit silly and giggly, and far too interested in Divination for this kind of thing. Then he reflected that she would have a new interesting way to die for her Divination homework now. Seamus, however, was not so good. Catch he could, and fly he could, but not simultaneously. He nearly fell from his broom three times, and on the fourth occasion, did. It was lucky Katie had thought of this eventuality, and that they were practising close to the ground. He landed in the snow with a 'flump' sound, his broom skittering wildly down behind him.

Ginny and Ron seemed to be having some sort of heated debate whilst throwing and catching the Quaffles. Every time Ginny said something she would throw the Quaffle really hard at Ron, and he would catch it, retort, and throw it back viciously. His face was dark with a scowl, and Ginny looked equally annoyed, but her face was tight. She kept shaking her head at Ron and repeating something Harry couldn't quite catch. Her hair, which had been scraped back with a bobble and a red Gryffindor coloured ribbon, was beginning to fly loose, and she kept pushing strands angrily out of the way. She and Ron were coping very well with the volley of Quaffles they were flinging at each other; rarely did Harry have to retrieve one for them. The pair with Fred and George, however, kept him amply busy. One was a gangling boy, by the name of Gaukroger - Harry didn't know his first name, because everyone called him that, even the professors. The other, a girl called Adriel Dextra, was good, but unfortunately was distracting poor Gaukroger, who was quite clumsy as it was. After half an hour of this, Katie called everyone over once more, and then quickly conferred with the other chasers and the twins. They ran through the performances and then everyone prepared to hear who was competing for the place.

"Well, I've been impressed so far," Katie smiled. "But, it's inevitable that some of you have to go. We can't have you all on the team this year! Gaukroger and Seamus, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to go sit in the stands, now." She smiled sympathetically at them, and they both nodded, neither looking either particularly surprised or disappointed.

"Now, the rest of you will move on to a different task. You've all proved you can catch and throw well at this height, but what happens when we move up to the height of the goalposts? And, can you stop goals shot by well trained chasers?" Parvati shifted uncomfortably on her broom, and Ginny and Ron ceased glaring at each other for a quick glance at the heights of the goalposts. Ginny swallowed almost imperceptibly, whatever Ron was thinking seemed to harden his resolve.

"Er, Katie?" he asked. He cleared his throat, and risked a sideways glance at Ginny. Ginny started forwards on her broom, flying in front of Ron.

"No! You great ginger haired gimp! Has your hair grown inside your head or something?" she shrieked. Harry blinked, the twins grinned, and Adriel winced slightly. Katie turned to Ginny with an amused smile.

"It's too dangerous!" Ron yelled.

"For who?" Katie asked.

"Her!" he cried, gesturing sharply towards Ginny. "She's only a little girl!" Harry put his head in his hands. He knew that Ginny would not react well to that. He had noticed himself that she most certainly wasn't a little girl.

"You... you... I'm only one year younger than you! Harry has been up here since his first year! Fred and George are the ones who face bludgers, and Adriel is the youngest girl in my year! How dare you say that it's too dangerous for me! You're just jealous because I'm as good as you! You're afraid you might lose out to me! Stupid git!" Ginny screeched, gesticulating wildly, her ribbon finally falling out of her hair and floating down to the ground.

"It's not that at all..." Ron began, purpling.

"Isn't it? ISN'T IT?" shouted Ginny. Katie moved backwards slightly. "Well do Fred and George look bothered to you?"

There was a long, agonising pause. "No," Ron uttered, eyes concentrating on the red ribbon bright in the snow below. Ginny nodded, still fuming, and then smiled sweetly at Katie. Madam Hooch had been hovering nearby, observing this, but she promptly smiled at Katie too, before beckoning Harry to help her gather the fallen Quaffles. Harry also retrieved Ginny's ribbon, and presented it to her with a small smile. She mistook his smile for mockery.

"Don't laugh at me Harry. I have to put up with this all the time," she said wearily.

"I wasn't," he assured her seriously. She looked into his eyes, and then looked away suddenly, as if she was afraid of what she saw.

"I know," she almost whispered. She tied her hair back again silently, and flashed him a small smile before flying after the rest of the players, up to one of the sets of goalposts. Harry contented himself in watching them all try out. Katie began to be ruthless with them, trying out some of the Chaser's tightest formations on the poor person in goal, and getting the twins to hit bludgers to each other across the goals. Parvati was tested first, but she now resembled Seamus, the height and threat of bludgers proving a little too much for her nerve. Katie assured her she could get better with practice, but did not seem to be able to cheer her up much. She descended slowly to the stands, and Harry watched her embrace Lavender, and then they bowed their heads together, no doubt discussing the argument. Adriel tried next, and managed to stop about half of the shots taken. Katie pulled her off early though, and had a quick word.

"Adriel, you're good, but I don't want you as a Keeper. I want you in training to be a Chaser, so that you can play next year when we've left please. Go have a word with Madam Hooch soon." Adriel smiled happily, and nodded, before shooting off to tell her friends waiting in the stands.

Now only Ginny and Ron were left. Ron went before Ginny, and stopped an impressive nineteen out of twenty-five. Ginny stopped seventeen. Harry could tell she was disappointed. Ron did look slightly smug, but had the sense and tact to stay quiet. Ginny flew back down to the stands ahead of the others, despite Harry's attempts to talk to her. Madam Hooch silenced everyone, and they paid rapt attention to Katie, who spoke once again.

"I'll not pad this out, I know you're all dying to know. This year's Keeper is Ron Weasley," she announced. Ron turned red to the tips of his ears, Hermione flung her arms around him, Fred and George cheered and then thumped him on the back, and everyone else burst out talking, before moving to congratulate him.

"Well done Ron!" cried Harry.

"Yeah, well done," Ginny encouraged him with a smile on her face. Ron shot her a small look, before taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Gin... I was jealous. Anyway - I'll train you up, because I'll need a reserve, you know," he offered. Ginny smiled at his hopeful face before hugging him tightly.

"Idiot," she muttered.

"Shrimp," Ron muttered back teasingly.

Harry reflected that Hermione was training Ron well. He was really getting the hang of this apologising business. He was left with a feeling that could only be described as fat. He felt full and fat with happiness, for his friends and for himself, and he couldn't help feeling that this was a very satisfactory outcome indeed. He couldn't wait until the matches began after Christmas.